An employee may use reasonable and necessary force for self-defense or defense of another person, to quell a disturbance threatening physical injury to others or damage to property, or to obtain possession of weapons or other dangerous objects within the control of a student. (Education Code 44807, 49001)
(cf. 5131.7 - Weapons and Dangerous Instruments)
(cf. 5144 - Discipline)
An employee shall promptly report to the principal or other immediate supervisor any attack, assault, or physical threat made against him/her by a student or by any other individual in relation to the employee's performance of his/her duties, and any action the employee took in response. When appropriate, the employee and the principal or other immediate supervisor shall report the incident to law enforcement.
(cf. 3515.2 - Disruptions)
Reports of attack, assault, or threat shall be forwarded immediately to the Superintendent or designee.
(cf. 3320 - Claims and Actions Against the District)
(cf. 3515.4 - Recovery for Property Loss or Damage)
(cf. 3530 - Risk Management/Insurance)
Notice Regarding Student Offenses Committed While Under School Jurisdiction
The Superintendent or designee shall inform the teacher(s) of each student who, during the previous three school years, has engaged in or is reasonably suspected to have engaged in any act, except the possession or use of tobacco products, that would constitute a ground for suspension or expulsion as specified in AR 5144.1 - Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process. This information shall be based upon district records maintained in the ordinary course of business or records received from a law enforcement agency. (Education Code 49079)
(cf. 5125 - Student Records)
(cf. 5144.1 - Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process)
Upon receiving a transfer student's record regarding acts committed by the student that resulted in his/her suspension or expulsion, the Superintendent or designee shall inform the student's teacher(s) that the student was suspended from school or expelled from his/her former district and of the act that resulted in the suspension or expulsion. (Education Code 48201)
Information received by teacher(s) shall be received in confidence for the limited purpose for which it was provided and shall not be further disseminated by the teacher. (Education Code 49079)
Notice Regarding Student Offenses Committed While Outside School Jurisdiction
When a minor student has been found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have illegally used, sold, or possessed a controlled substance or committed specified crimes involving serious acts of violence, the district police or security department may provide written notification to the Superintendent. (Welfare and Institutions Code 828.1)
(cf. 3515.3 - District Police/Security Department)
When informed by the court that a minor student has been found by a court to have committed any felony or any misdemeanor involving curfew, gambling, alcohol, drugs, tobacco products, carrying of weapons, a sex offense listed in Penal Code 290, assault or battery, larceny, vandalism, or graffiti, the Superintendent or designee shall so inform the school principal. (Welfare and Institutions Code 827)
The principal shall disseminate this information to any counselor who directly supervises or reports on the student's behavior or progress. The principal shall also inform any teacher or administrator directly supervising or reporting on the student's behavior or progress whom he/she thinks may need the information so as to work with the student appropriately, avoid being needlessly vulnerable, or protect others from vulnerability. (Welfare and Institutions Code 827)
Any court-initiated information that a teacher, counselor, or administrator receives shall be kept confidential and used only to rehabilitate the student and protect other students and staff. The information shall be further disseminated only when communication with the student, parent/guardian, law enforcement staff, and probation officer is necessary to rehabilitate the student or to protect students and staff. (Welfare and Institutions Code 827)
When a student is removed from school as a result of his/her offense, the Superintendent shall hold the court's information in a separate confidential file until the student is returned to the district. If the student is returned to a different district, the Superintendent shall transmit the information provided by the student's parole or probation officer to the superintendent of the new district of attendance. (Welfare and Institutions Code 827)
Any confidential file of court-initiated information shall be kept until the student becomes 18, graduates from high school, or is released from juvenile court jurisdiction, whichever occurs first, and shall then be destroyed. (Welfare and Institutions Code 827)
Procedures to Maintain Confidentiality of Student Offenses
In order to maintain confidentiality when providing information about student offenses to counselors and teachers of classes/programs to which a student is assigned, the principal or designee shall send the staff member a written notification that one of his/her students has committed an offense that requires his/her review of a student's file in the school office. This notice shall not name or otherwise identify the student. The staff member shall be asked to initial the notification and return it to the principal or designee. He/she shall also initial the student's file when reviewing it in the school office.
Use of Pepper Spray
The Superintendent or designee shall notify employees of the district's policy prohibiting the possession of pepper spray on school property or at school-related activities without prior approval of the Superintendent or designee. Employees wishing to carry pepper spray shall submit to the Superintendent or designee a written request setting forth the need for the pepper spray. The Superintendent or designee shall notify the employee in writing as to whether the request was approved or denied.
When approving an employee's request, the Superintendent or designee shall inform the employee of the following conditions:
1. The pepper spray shall be used only in self-defense.
2. An employee who uses pepper spray other than in self-defense shall be subject to disciplinary action by the district and, in accordance with law, a fine and/or imprisonment.
(cf. 4118 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
(cf. 4218 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action)
3. The pepper spray must be stored in a secure place and not be accessible to students or other individuals. Negligent storage of the pepper spray may subject the employee to disciplinary action.
Regulation VALLECITO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: June 20, 2018 Avery, California